Dropping friends should not be as easy as dropping classes

by Kersha Parker, staff writer

We hear over and over that college is about developing into your own person. 

We also hear that there are major changes that we will face dealing with friendships, relationships etc.  All of these are true and can be very hard for any young person to face. Most of the time, these stories end with an eye-opening moment that makes you realize you are truly an individual. But I’ve learned that sometimes there is a down side to letting go of those precious friendships that you had before the “real world.”

I recently had a friend who lost one of her closest friends because they both went to separate colleges and somehow couldn’t find the time to “keep in touch.” I know both of the girls, and they have equally great personalities.  They had wit and humor, and it was obvious to tell why they were best friends.  There also wasn’t a “Mean Girl” gene, with one as the leader and the other dumb enough to follow.  Each of them had their own views and opinions.

But in my eyes, it was easier for both of them to say, “We are growing apart,” and blame distance and lack of time.  It’s a common story to lose a best friend, and maybe that’s why it seemed OK to have a common ending.

College is new, fun, exciting and surprising.  It’s the first time we gain independence and have freedoms to do what we want.  We have the opportunity to gain new friendships and learn about different people.  But with this opportunity, it becomes easy to forget those times when your best friend brought you ice cream when the love of your life dumped you before prom.

I’m not suggesting that you spend all of college texting your “bff” instead of meeting amazing people. But there isn’t any good excuse for forgetting about the people who cared. 

It’s a cop out to not hold on to special people in your life. No one stays the same, and loving who you are is always important. But life is too short to not love those who loved you the most. 

Be happy about the growth, and change your experience now. But don’t forget about those people who made you feel OK about being yourself when you weren’t.